Pickling apparatus



Jan. 17, 1928.

w, J. cooK PI CKLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1926 Big .L

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOE O8 EY Jan. 17, 1928.

W. J. COOK fICKLING APPARATUS Filed 4. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToia Jan. 17, 1928. 1,656,693

W. J. CGOK PICKLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOE.

Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM 3'. (700K, F WHEELING, WEST VIRGI'NM.

PICKLING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 4, 1926. Serial No. 146,145.

This invention relates broadly to metal pickling apparatus, and more specifically to mechanism for effecting the pickling of metal sheets.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in association with one or more pickling tanks, a simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive apparatus whereby, at a minimum power cost, sheets of metal to be pickled are continuously agitated in the pickling fluid or said tanks by vertical lowering and elevating movements thereof.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned adapted to operate in association with pickling tanks of plain unpartitioned form, thereby to obviate the high upkeep cost of tanks of the common plunger type.

Other important objects of the invention will hereinafter be pointed out and made apparent.

lln describing the invention in detail, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, in which" Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is an enlarged inner side elevation of the rack-carrying portion of a rocker;

Figure 5 is a section of the same taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4; a

Figure 6 is a side elevation of an end portion of the sheet carrying rack;

Figure 7 is a section on line 77, Fi 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section 0 the drive-shaft crank;

Figure 9 is a view of the sheetcarrying rack partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section; and- Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the same.

Referring to said drawings, 1 and 2 designate companion pickling tanks of plain rectangular form which are arranged inspaced parallel relation, the same constituting containers for the pickling fluid. DIS- osed between and parallel to said tanks and Journaled in appropriate bearings 3 is a rocker shaft 4 upon each of the opposite end portions of which, adjacent to the outer faces of the tank ends, is fixed a rocker 5. Said rocker, which is herein shown as having substantially the form of an isosceles triangle and as having a skeleton frame structure, has its longer side member 5 received midway between its ends upon the rocker shaft 4 so that it is substantially bal anced with said side member occupying a horizontal position and with its apex in depending vertical alinement with said shaft.

Bearing-like pockets or seats 6 are formed at opposite ends of each of the rocker members 5- for the reception of the ends of two carrier bars 7 which constitute parts of spider-like supports from which may be suspended the usual racks 8 bearing the sheets or other material'to be treated in the pickling tanks 1 and 2. Each of the spiders also includes cross arms 9 carried by the bar 7, said arms being arranged in pairs disposed at right angles to said bar, as is best shown in Fig. 1. Each of said arms 9 carries at its outer end a depending hook 10 adapted to be engaged with eyes 11 formed uponthe upper ends of suspension rods 12 which are attached to the opposite sides of the racks 8.

The carrier bars 7 of each spider are herein shown as of I-beam form, the ends thereof constituting trunnions which may have bolted or riveted to the under faces thereof seating members having their under faces arcuately curved to correspond substantially with the curvatures of the pockets 6 in which they are to seat, thereby to facilitate lateral roc ing movements of the spider with respect to the rockers 5 when such is desired.

Pivotally connected to one or each of the rockers 5 at or adjacent to the apex of the angle formed between the equal sides thereof is one end of a pitman i3 whichis mounted at its opposite end upon the wrist pin 14 of a cran 15 which is fixed upon the adjacent end of a shaft 16 journaled in bearings 17 located in an appropriate position with respect to that of the pickling tanks, said shaft being driven by an electric motor 18 through suitable intermediate gearing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In ractice, the sheets to be pickled are deposited edgewise upon the racks 8 which occu v positions upon the factory floor, fol lowing which a spider, carried by a traveling crane which has its lifting hook engaged with a supporting eye 19 fixed upon the carrier bar 7 of such spider midway between the ends of the latter, is lowered over one of the loaded racks to a position wherein the hooks 10 borne by the spider are enga cable with the eyes 11 of the suspension ro s 12 of the rack. Following attachment lid of said hooks 10 to said suspension rods, effected by hand, the spider and loaded rack are together elevated by means of the crane and are transported to a position over one of the pickling tanks and are then lowered to a position wherein the trunnions of the spider seat within the pockets 6 provided in the adjacent ends of the rockers 5. second spider is then attached in carrying relation to a second loaded rack which is then in like manner transported to and lowered within the other of the companion tanks to a position at which the trunnion ends of the carrier bar of the spider seats in the opposite end pockets of the rockers.

In this connection. it may be found desirable to immerse the sheets in water immediately following pickling thereof. in which case the crane is employed for transporting the loaded rack troin the bath to, lowering it in, and withdrawing it from a suitably located water tank prior to deposit ing it upon the floor or other location.

Following the deposit of the racks in the companion tanks, as hereinbetore described. the motor 18 is started for actuating rocking or oscillatory movements of the rockers 5 whereby the two spiders and suspended racks are alternately lowered and elevated.

for submerging and elevating the thereby carried sheets with respect to the acid bath of the two tanks. Obviously, due to the fact that the loads borne by the opposite ends of the rockers are substantially balanced, the power required to efiect oscillation of the latter and the resultant alternate lowering and raising movements of the sheet is relatively small.

It is to be noted particularly that, due to the fact that in the oscillatory movements of the rockers 5 each of the ends of the latter travels in the arc of a circle, the supported racks are likewise reciprocated in arcuate paths rather than vertically. Consequently, the packs of sheets which are disposed upon their edges on said racks are not only elevated and lowered, but are also shifted laterally throughout a relatively short distance-approximately one or two inches-in each reciprocating movement thereof. This lateral movement not only creates a more or less violent agitation of the fluid of the pickling bath. but it also benefi cially utilizes the 1novementresisting force of the fluid of the bath to etfect separation of the traveling sheets of the packs to the extent that free access of the fluid to all surface areas of said sheets is permitted.

Following completion of the pickling. the crane is employed to lift the spiders and suspended load-carrying racks from the tanks and to transport the samefrom the tanks.

neeaeea From the foregoing it will be evident that not only does the mechanism whereby the metal is reciprocated within the pickling tanks involve a simple and relatively inexpensive structure, but also the pickling tanks required may be of simple, rigid and durable construction requiring practically no expense for upkeep. Additionally, it will be noted that, due to the substantially balanced condition of the structure, the power required to operate it may be furnished by a co1npzliratively small and inexpensive power ant.

Obviously, the stroke of the pitnren and, consequently, the distance throughout which the sheets are elevated and lowered in the reciprocating movements thereof, may read ily be regulated by adjustment of the reach of the cranks 15.

Moreover, the apparatus possesses relatively great eticiency due to the positive agitation effected in the reciprocation of the metal within the pickling bath.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with companion pickling tanks, of members arranged for oscillating movements adjacent to opposite ends of said tanks, pickling-rack suspension means adapted to be removably mounted upon said members in overhanging relation to each of said tanks. and means for impart ing to said members oscillating movements whereby said suspension means are alternately reciprocated for lowering and elevating in curved paths the thereby-carried racks within said tanks.

2. The combination with companion pickling tanks, of members arranged for oscil lating movements adjacent to opposite ends of said tanks, a carrier whereon a ickling rack may be supported upon opposite ends of said members, and means for imparting to said members oscillating movements whereby said carriers are alternately reciprocated for lowering and elevating in arcuate paths of travel thereby-carried racks in the pickling baths contained by said tanks.

3. lhe combination with a container for a pickling fluid, of members mounted for oscillation adjacent to opposite ends of said container, a carrier having trunnions mounted on said members. means for suspending a pickling rack from said carrier within said container, and means for oscillating said members to lower and elevate the snspension means whereby the thereby-supported rack is reciprocated in an arcuate path within the pickling fluid.

In testimony whereof. I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. COOK.

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